In (Jeremiah 17:9) we read: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” The human heart, by itself, will never focus on the things of God because it doesn’t have the capacity since, according to Scripture, it is dead in trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1). Without a spiritual transformation, which can only be accomplished, through the power of the Holy Spirit, humanity will never find peace and contentment in this life.
For you see true contentment according to Jerry Bridges only happens when a person focuses his heart on Jesus: “Contentment is one of the most distinguishing traits of the godly person, because a godly person has his heart focused on God rather than on possessions or position or power.”1 Without a transformed new heart, which we receive at salvation, the old human heart tries desperately to find satisfaction in people and things. But these creature things can only provide momentary contentment, and this fades away quite quickly as the human heart goes from one thing to another in a desperate attempt to find lasting contentment.
Thankfully, when one gives their heart to Jesus true contentment becomes possible and is a sign of a truly godly person because he finds that knowing Jesus intimately is what true contentment is all about. I really like what William Hendriksen said regarding true riches: “The truly godly person is not interested in becoming rich. He possesses inner resources which furnish riches far beyond that which earth can offer.”2 And these “inner resources” are deep and abiding peace and joy, furnished by the Holy Spirit working within our new transformed heart.
Augustine said it so well: “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”3 As Christians we experientially know that we are all born with a spiritual vacuum that only Jesus Christ can fill. And without Christ abiding within us, our human heart is left helpless to find real contentment.
Warren Wiersbe adds extra insight on where the real battle for true contentment lies when he said: “Real contentment must come from within. You and I cannot change or control the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us.”4 And when the world within us is occupied by the Holy Spirit, rich meaning, amazing peace, and overflowing joy becomes possible and is the basis for godly contentment.
My friends humanity is on a collision course with bondage to its own human heart. True contentment will never be possible until this human heart undergoes radical spiritual surgery by the Great Physician – Jesus Christ. But praise be to God when Jesus comes into our hearts, something awesome happens – we no longer have to search for meaning, peace, and joy, through people and possessions, but instead just allow the Holy Spirit to saturate us with Jesus – the true, and only source of real contentment!
1 What does the Bible Say About Contentment? – Joy-Filled Days
2 What does the Bible Say About Contentment? – Joy-Filled Days